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Young defender flying the flag for Manchester at United

Tuesday 23rd of September 2014

It is some relief for the supporters according to Car Hire Manchester Airport that there is still some local talent being given the chance in the first team.

The Hulme-born defender has started every Premier League match so far this season, and will hope to retain his place despite increased competition. Hulme’s Tyler Blackett is flying the flag for Manchester in Louis van Gaal’s expensive revamped multi-cultural United.

Traditionally Manchester United has had a few squad members from the local area in their line-ups since Sir Matt Busby became manager. Busby’s first trophy was the 1948 FA Cup and five of the team were from the Manchester area with Jack Crompton (Newton Heath), Stan Pearson and John Anderson (both Salford), John Aston snr (Prestwich) and Henry Cockburn (Ashton) all in the Wembley XI.

The 1968 Wembley side that brought the Reds their first European Cup with a 4-1 defeat of Benfica had Collyhurst pair Nobby Stiles and Brian Kidd featuring in Busby’s XI along with Shay Brennan from Wythenshawe and Johnny Aston jnr from east Manchester.

Alex Ferguson’s Treble-winners had Gorton’s Nicky Butt and Salford-born Paul Scholes in among the foreign invasion. Butt played in the unforgettable Champions League final against Bayern Munich in 1999. Danny Welbeck, from Longsight, kept the Manchester light flickering for United, but now he has gone and the local link is under threat from the Gaalacticos.

The 20-year-old defender is battling for survival and though he has played in all four Premier League matches for the Reds this season, manager Van Gaal’s blunt observation after the Queens Park Rangers match last Sunday suggests the young Mancunian might not have a first-team jersey much in the near future.

But Blackett has been impressive this campaign as both a central defender or in the wide left role in a three-man defence.